The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-12-22
The Minnesota Leprosy Cases.

The Fergus Falls journal puDllSneS an
article from correspondent at Rothsay,
near which place the cases OF ieprosy re-
Gently mentioned in the Pioneer Press are
supposed to exist. The correspondence Wis
tied the families of Christopher Kjono and
Bjorgen Shaldrup, the names OF the par.
ties afflicted with disease, which in Norway
is called "Spedalskhede." The corre-
spondent writes
Kjono first exhibited traces OF leprosy at
the age of eighteen in Norway. He is now
forty-five years OF age. At the age OF thir-
ty he removed to the United States. was
married to woman similarly affected.
and is now described as having hairless
face and head. and destroyed palate, and
has suffered the partial loss OF his fingers.
In some districts in Norway, where the in
habitarts live largely on fish diet,
the disease is very common. 1t does
not partake OF the features OF
the leprosy referred to in the Bible.
That it is not contagious is proved by the
fact that in the case OF Sheldrup neither
his wife nor young child has the slightest
trace OF tho disease which affiicts the hus-
band and father. In Norway the families
afflicted are not isolated nor avoided by
their neighbors. find that modern lep-
rosy is divided into two general classes,
viz: Elephantiasis tuberosa, and ele-
phantiasis anmthetica. The first OF these
is manifest in the integument and the
mucous membrane. This variety in
cludes the more contagious kinds and
is distinguished by the formation
of tubercles under the skin, and liberation
OF the surface! This constitutes the lepro-
sy OF the middle ages, aud is found at the
present day in Iceland, Africa, East and
West Indies, and in many tropical islands.
The other variety is distinguished by affe
tions of tho nervous system, q consequent
absence OF sensibility on the general sur
face and the dropping off OF the fingers and
toes. The ub.division distinguished par
ticularly for the latter effect, is termed
elephantiasis muttanso, joint evil.
This is the spidalsk of the Norwegian
fisherman and the form of leprosy import
eel into this country from Norway. 1t is
the opinion of the doctors that many
forms of disease now claimed as leprosy
will be distinguished by some more appro.
pirate name in the near future when the
difference in their progress, in their charac-
ter, in their fatality and their powers OF
injection shall be more fully known. The
ancient leprosy OF the Hebrews, owing to
it's peculiar effects upon the skin, has been
termed by physicians leucaderma or
white skim" and regulated to the list
of skin diseases as have many other
cutaneous affections, the nature OF which
has been established by modern inquiry.
Some of those who have made the matter
in all it's bearings thorough study, claim
it to be hereditary; some ascribe it to the
use OF putrid meats or fish; some lay it to
a lack of vegetable food and some to di-
rect contact with leprous ulcerations some
consider filthy habits, insufficient food and
exposure to weather, both cold and damp,
necessary to become infected. All agree
that the eating OF fish aggravates the dis.
ease, and all concede that it is at p1esent
incurable.